Automatic immersion apparatus



Feb. 8, 1944. c WEISKOPF 2,341,197

AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATUS Filed Ju 17, 1941 3 SheetS Sheet 1Snnentor EDWIN C. WE\$KOPF 83 MG Q (Ittomeg Feb. 8, 19144. I E. c.WEISKOPF 2,341,197

I AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATUS I Filed July 17, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HI Zhwentor EDW N C w as o'FF mill-m :amllulnml Feb. 8, 1944. A. r E. c.WEISKOPF 2,341,197

AUTQMAT I C I MMERS ION APPARATUS I l 57 Gttorneu Patented Feb. 8, 1944auromirrc 2,341,197 v IMIHERSION APPARATUS Edwin C. Weiskopi', New York,N. Y. Application July 17, 1941, Serial No. 402,787 r v 9 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic immersion apparatus of the typedisclosed in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,157,875 granted MayAs stated in said above mentioned Letters Patent the apparatus isintended primarily for use in subjecting tissue to the treatment ofvarious liquids. In the use of said apparatus the tissue is placed in aholder-forming a. part of the apparatus, and said holder carrying thetissue is immersed successively, in automatic fashion. in a plurality ofreceptacles containing the several liquids, respectively. v

The primary object of the present invention is to provide the apparatuswith means for effecting movement of the tissue "while in the liquids inthe several receptacles whereby to improve and hasten the penetration ofthe liquid into the tissue.

The above object of the invention and other objects ancillary theretowill best be understood from the following description considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view, in elevation, of the apparatus embodying thepresent invention, with parts broken away for the purposes ofillustration;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, with parts in elevation, of the upper partof the apparatusas seen along the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fi Fig. 5 is a sectionalview of part of the mechanism for turning the tissue holder in theliquid receptacles;

Fig. 5A is a fragmentary side view of the tis= sue holder and itssupport as seen from line 5A-5A of Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. showing the mechanism formoving the tissue holder from one receptacle into another;

Fig. 7 is a central vertical sectional view of the washer provided inthe apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view, with parts the apparatus comprisesa cabinet iflcon whicha receptacle table or support 22 is mounted forsupporting a' plurality or receptacles 34 for the various liquids inwhich the tissue or other material subjected to treatment thereby isimmersed.

A vertical shaft 44 is mounted for longitudinal and rotary movement andhas fixed thereto near its upper end a supporting frame 45 carrying aplurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending arms 41 fromwhich are supported covers 48 for the several receptacles. Frame 45 alsocarries an arm 41a which carries the tissue hold- 'er 60 and a cover 48afor the liquid receptacle in which the tissue holder is immersed. Shaft44 is moved vertically up and down at predetermined intervals under thecontrol of a timing mechanism including a timing disk I10, as exinelevation, of part of the apparatus illustrating another form of theinvention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view of part of the apparatus in the formof the invention illustrated in Fig. 8 and illustrates the liquid supplyand exhaust means for the washer when the latter is mounted on a turningsupport.

As disclosed in my above mentioned patent,

"plained in said patent, whereby to raise and lower frame 45, and saidshaft is also turned intermittently through a predetermined are byintermittent turning mechanism including a Geneva gear I28 and acooperating gear I44. Said last mentioned gear is rotated by a verticalshaft comprising sections I22 and I24 connected to each .other by asleeve I26 and a set screw I21, sleeve 126 being fixed to the upper endof shaft Section I22 and being releasably connected to shaft 1'24 bysaid set screw I21. It will be understood that after tissue holder is inone of the receptacles '38 for a predetermined length of time shaft 44ismoved upwardly to raise frame 45 and the tissue holder 60 sufilcientlyto permit said tissue holder to clear the top of the receptacles, afterwhich, through the operation of the Geneva gear movement,frame 45 isturned through a predetermined arc to position the tissue holder overthe next receptacle into which the tissue holder is to be placed, andsubstantially at the end of this turning movement of the shaft thelatter is moved downwardly for bringing the tissue holder into theliquid in said receptacle- As thus far described the apparatus isconstructed and operates in the same way as described in my aboveidentified patent, and as indicated above the present invention residesin providing'the apparatus with means for moving the tissue holder inthe receptacle when said tissue holder is positioned therein whereby thetissue is moved relatively to the liquid while immersed therein, thus toimprove and hasten the penetration of the liquid into the tissue. Themeans provided for this purpose in accordance with the preferred form oftheinvention will now be described.

As'clearlyshown in Figs. 5.and 5A the'tissue by a set screw rotation inthe vertical part 93 of a fitting I55,v

holder 39 is detachably secured to the opposite ends of across strap 5|.Said ends of the strap 5| are provided with bayonet slots 5Ia which areengaged by pins '5Ib projecting laterally from o posite sides of holder99 near the top thereof. A fiat cross spring 53 positioned above strap5I engages the upper edge of holder 39 for releasably holding pins 5thin the lateral parts of the bayonet slots 5Ia. Strap 5| and cross spring53 are secured to the lower end of a stem 55 by a nut 51. The cover 480surrounds the sleeve 55a on stem 55 and is slidable thereon when thecover. engages the top of the receptacle and the holder 69 is enteredtherein.

Stem 55 is rotated by a rotary spindle 59. Said stem is detachablyconnected to spindle 59 by a coupling member M which is fixed to saidspindle and to which the stem is removably fastened 6Ia. Spindle 59 ismounted for and more particularly as shown the upper end of spindle 59is fixed to a bearing sleeve 61 in said vertical part 93 of the spindle,the lower edge of said sleeve being supported on a bearing disk 69beneath which is a felt washer H which engages spindle 59 completelytherearound to prevent oil from leaking out of the bearing. Spindle '59is rotated by a beveled gear 13 fixed thereto and driven by a beveledgear 15. Said last 'mentioned beveled gear is fixed to a stem 11 mountedfor rotation in fitting 65 and actuated by shaft 19 which is operativelyconnected to stem 11 by separable coupling members 91.

Shaft 19 is rotated by a motor 83 mounted at the top of frame 45. Forthis purpose the base of motor 93 is fastened to a plate 83a'carried bya pair of posts 331) fixed to and upstanding from frame 45. It will beunderstood that shaft 19 is driven from the main shaft of motor 83through suitable reduction gearing. Holder 69 is turned slowly byspindle 59, that is, at a speed of about one revolution per minute inutilizing the apparatus for the treatment of tissue. While higherspeeds, say in the neighborhood of about four or five R. P. M. can beused, the lower speed indicated has been found to give best results. Itwill be observed that fitting 65 is supported on arm 41a and that forthis purpose the downwardly extending tubular part 95 of fitting 65passes through a circular opening 81 in arm 41a and nuts 89 and SI arethreaded on tubular part 95 and engage the opposite surfaces of arm 41aforsecuring the fitting 55 in adjusted position on said arm.

Provision is made for rotating tissue holder 69 only when the latter ispositioned in the several receptacles 38, respectively. For this purposea circuit making and breaking device is arranged in the apparatus and isoperable to interrupt the circuit of motor 83 during the operation ofshaft 44 and the Geneva gear movement for moving the tissue holder fromone receptacle into another. Said circuit making and breaking devicecomprises a stationary member 93 (Fig. 3) fixed to the upper guidebearing 64 for the main shaft 49. An insulation support 95 is mountedwithin member 93 and carries a pair of radially spaced conductor rings91 and 99 forming part of an electrical slip-ring connection. Said ringsare positioned to be engaged by a pair of conductor members IM and I93which are the complementary parts of said slip-ring connection. Saidconductor members IM and I93 are carried by tubular holders I95 and I91,respectively, fixed to and depending from the bottom of frame 45.

Said conductor members IN and I93 are slidable in the lower ends of saidtubular members and are eachspring pressed downwardly by a spring I99.It will be understood thatwhen shaft 44 moves upwardly members IIII andI93 disengage their companion rings 31 and 99 and are brought intoengagement with said rings when said shaft moves downwardly forpositioning the tissue holder 69 in the companion receptacle 38.Conductor members IM and I93 are connected to the terminals of motor 83,and rings 91 and 99 are connected to a switch III. Switch III isactuated by a plunger 1 I la to close the circuit to the motorafter-movable contact members IM and I93 are brought into engagementwith the companion conductor rings 91 and 99. For this purpose frame 45is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins H3, onefor each receptacle 38 and for the receptacle 38a which will hereinafterbe referred to more in detail. When the frame is turned to position theholder 59 over the receptacle in which it is to enter, a pin H3 is inalignment with plunger Id of the switch. Said pin II! are eachadjustably secured to frame 45 in said depending relation by a pair ofnuts I I5 and I I1. It will be understood that pins II3 are spaced fromeach other circumferentially in relation to arms 41 and 41a so thatplunger Id of switch III will be depressed thereby to operate the switchto close the circuit of the motor each time the tissue holder ispositioned in the corresponding liquid receptacle. Switch III ispreferably a micro-switch which opens automatically when pin I I3disengages the plunger la. The pins 3- and the conductor members IN andI93 of the slip-ring connection are related so that the slip-ringconnection is made before switch III is closed and is broken afterswitch III is opened, thus to prevent sparking at said slip-ringconnection.

. The receptacle 38a constitutes a washer for the tissue. Saidreceptacle comprises an outer cylin-, der I I9 mounted on supportingplate 32 by a pair of side brackets I2 I By reference to Fig." 1 it willbe observed that receptacle 38 projects below supporting plate 32, andit will be understood that the top of cylinder H9 is substantially inthe same plane with the upper ends of receptacles 33. A cylindricalcontainer I23 having a closed bottom I23a is mounted within outercylinder H9 in spaced relation thereto and a pipe I25 is disposed in thespace between container I23 and cylinder H9. The inlet end I21 of pipeI25 communicates with container I23 near the bottom thereof, and theoutlet end I29 of said pipe extends through cylinder H9 and ispositioned below the inlet end I21 of the pipe. By reference to Fig. 7it will be observed that pipe I25 extends upwardly from its inlet I21 toa high point I3I and then downwardly to its outlet I29. A liquid exhaustpipe (not shown) is connected to said outlet. A liquid inlet pipe I33 isconnected to container I23 preferably near the bottom thereof. Inletpipe I33 is preferably of smaller diameter than outlet pipe I25 so thateven though water or other liquid is constantly supplied to containerI23 the liquid empties very rapidly from said container each time thelevel of liquid therein is above the high point I3I of pipe I25. Thus,when tissue holder 69 is positioned in container 33a, the tissue issubjected to repeated washing thereof by the water which flows into andout of the inner receptacle I23, and at the same time the tissue isturned in the water. This method of fective after treatment of thetissue in Zenkers' fixative solution. The repeatedsupply of fresh waterin the, washer 38a, the rapid movement of the water repeatedly in thedraining from the.

washer and the turning of the tissue while'being thus subjected to theaction repeatedly of clean water results in a rapid and thorough removalof the Zenkers solution. The turning of the tissue in the Zenkerssolution and the subsequent expeditious and thorough washing thereofhave :resulted in greatly reducing the time necessary for treating thetissue. It will be understood that the turning of the tissue in theother liquids including the paraffin bath also reduces the time requiredfor preparing the tissue and improves the penetration of the tissue bythe several liquids.

As the supply of water or other washing liquid to the washer isunnecessary until the tissue is placed in the washer,'the apparatus'ispreferably provided with means operable automatically to open a valveI33a (Fig. 3) in the supply pipe I33 to permit the washing liquid toflow into the washer when the tissue is transferred thereto. For thispurpose the valve I33a in supply pipe I33 is mounted in stationaryposition onmember 93 in position to be opened by'a pin II3a fixed to anddepending from frame 45. Said valve I 33a is of the type which isnormally spring-closed and is opened when the valve stem I33b isdepressed by said pin I I311.

In accordance with another form of the invention the apparatus isconstructed so' that it is unnecessaryto rotate the tissue holder 60 forthe purpose of moving the same from one receptacle into another, andthis makes it unnecessary to rotate motor 83. Accordingly, in this formthe main shaft designated Mb is mounted only for vertical movement andis not rotated, while the support 32' for the several receptacles 38 andfor the washer 38a is turned intermittently by the Geneva gear movement.For this purpose support 32' is fixed to a tubular member I 35 having arotary bearing on the stationary guide member Mb in which shaft-Mb isguided for vertical movement. The lower end of tubular member i135 whichis fixed to support 32' is secured to the .Geneva gear I281; of theGeneva gear movement,

the cooperating gear of said movement being indicated at IMb. Support32' is also supported by a roller bearing I31 carried by posts l39 fixedto and upstanding from the top of standard 'i2b beyond the peripheraledge of the Geneva gear I281). In this form of the invention theslip-ring connection and the plurality of pins I I3 described above areunnecessary as motor 83 does not rotate, and instead it is merelynecessary to provide a switch MI which is carried by frame fl5b inposition to be actuated by a pin I43 which is carried in stationaryposition by a bracket M5 fixed to guide bearing 64b. It will beunderstood that switch MI which can be the same as switch III isactuated by pin I43 to close the circuit of the motor when the tissueholder 60 is positioned within the receptacles containing the liquid intreating the tissue. In the operation of the apparatus illustrated inFig. 8 it will be understood that shaft Mb is moved up and down topermit turning movement of the receptacles 38 and that support 32' isintermittently actuated while shaft Mb is in its raised position, thatis, when the tissue holder is clear of the top of said receptacles, saidshaft being lowered when the receptacle into which the tissue holder isto be positioned v 3 is. brought under-said tissue holder in centralvertical alignment therewith. Except as hereinbefore described inconnection with this form of the invention the parts of the apparatusare the same as the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and the means for turningthe tissue holder 60 in each receptacle are substantially the same asdescribed above in reference to the form of the invention I firstdescribed. It .will be understood, however,

that when a washer oi the type of washer 38a is mounted on the movablesupport 32, the liquid supply pipe I33 will not be connected to thewasher but will be arranged so that the washer can move when support 32is turned and likewise for the same reason the liquid exhaust pipe willnot be connected to the washer but will be mounted in stationaryposition at the station at which the washer is in operation. Thus, asillustrated in Fig. 9, the washer 38a is provided with a liquid inletfitting I5I including a funnel I5 Ia' which receives water from supplypipe I33 when the washer is positioned at the station at which it is tooperate, and said washer is provided with an outlet fitting I53 which ispositionedv over the funnel I55 at the upper end of drain pipe I51. Itwill be understood that supply pipe I33 will be provided with a valveI33a' which is automatically opened when washer 38a is in the operatingposition and which is closed prior to the movement of'said washer fromthe operating station, as described above in reference to the apparatusillustrated in Fig. 1. For this purpose the springclosed valve I33a' iscarried by frame 45b and is movable up and down with said frame and thevalve-opening stem I33b is arranged to be actuated by a pin I59 fixed toand upstanding from support 32' in position to register with stem I33b'when the washer is brought into alignment with holder 30. It will beobserved that valve I33u' is not opened until funnel I 5Ia registerswith the delivery end of supply pipe I33. and is closed beforeoutletfitting I53 moves out .of registry with funnel I55 of the drainpipe. The closing movement of valve I33a' is short so that the washerhas an opportunity to drain before the next movement of support 32'.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention it will be understood that the latter may be embodiedotherwise than as herein shown or described, and that in the illustratedembodiment certain changes in the details of construction and in thearrangement of parts may be made. Accordingly, I do. not wish' to belimited to the invention as herein specifically shown or describedexcept to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l.- In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofreceptacles, a holder movable into and out of said receptacles,respectively, and means for effecting relative vertical and lateralmovements of said holder and receptacles for conveying said holder outof one of said receptacles and into another of said receptacles; meansadditional to said last mentioned means for effecting a relative rotarymovement between said holder and one of said receptacles when the hold-'er is in said last mentioned receptacle, said last mentioned meanscomprising a motor for rotatdirection for bringing said holder out ofsaid receptacle. 4

2. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofstationary receptacles, and a holder mounted for movement into and outof said receptacles, respectively, and movable lat-s erally of saidreceptacles externally thereof;

means for effecting a relative turning movement between said holder andthe receptacle in which. the holder is positioned, said lastmentionedmeans comprising a shaft, a motor for actuating said shaft, andmeans operable in response to said movement of the holder into and outof the receptacle for controlling the operation of said motor, saidmeans for controlling the operation of said motor comprising a switchspaced radially from said shaft and a plura1ity.of members carried bysaid frame and disposed in spaced relation in circular arrangementradially of said shaft in position for vertical alignment of each ofsaid members with said switch when said frame moves from one receptacletoanother whereby the aligned member is operable toactuate said switchwhen said frame is moved vertically for moving said holder into thecompanion receptacle.

3. In apparatus of the class described comprising a stationaryhorizontal support, a. plurality of receptacles mounted on said supportin circular arrangement thereon, a shaft mounted vertically in positioncentrally of said receptacles, said shaft being rotatably and verticallymovable, a frame carried by said shaft and movable therewith, and aholder carried by said frame and movable thereby into and out of saidreceptacles and from one reoeptable to another; means carried by saidframe and operatively connected to said holder for rotating the latterin the receptacle in which it is positioned; said last mentioned meanscomprising a shaft, a motor for actuating said shaft,-and means operablein response to said movement of the holder into and out of thereceptacle for controlling the operation of said motor, said lastmentioned means comprising a switch spaced radially from said shaft anda plurality of members carriedv by said frame and disposed in spacedrelation in circular arrangement radially of said shaft in position forvertical alignment of each of said members with said switch when saidframe moves from one receptacle to another whereby the aligned member isoperable to actuate said switch when said frame is moved vertically formoving said holder into the companion receptacle.

4. In apparatus of the class described comprising a stationaryhorizontal support, a plurality of receptacles mounted on said supportin circular arrangement thereon, a shaft mounted vertically in positioncentrally .of said receptacle's, said shaft being rotatably andvertically movable, a frame carried by said shaft and rotatably andvertically movable therewith, and a holder carried by said frame andmovable into and out of said receptacles; means carried by said frameand operatively' connected to said holder for'rotating the latter in thereceptacle in which it is positioned, said last mentioned meanscomprising a shaft, a motor for actuating said shaft, means operable inresponse to said movement of the holder into and out of the receptaclefor controlling the operation of said motor, said motor-controllingmeans comprising a slip-ring connection to said motor, a switch forcontrolling the circuit through said slip-ring connection, and meanscarried by said rotatable and vertically movable frame and movabletherewith for operating said switch.

5. In apparatus of the class described comprising a receptacle, a holderfor material to be treated in said receptacle, means mounting saidholder and ,said receptacle for relative vertical movement of thereceptacle'and holder in two directions, means for effecting saidrelative movement in two directions whereby to bring said holder intoand out of said receptacle, respectively, means mounting said holderfor. rotation, and a motor for rotating-saidholder, means forcontrolling the operation of said motor in response to therelativevertical movement of said receptacle and holder, said inotorzcontrollingmeans comprising a switch and means for operating said switch, saidvswitch and said switchoperating means being relatively movable in avertical direction in predetermined relation to said relative verticalmovements of said receptacle and holder and said switch being closedpursuant to a predetermined relative movement of receptacle and holderin the direction for bringing said holder into said receptacle and beingopened pursuant to a predetermined relative movement of receptacle andholder in the direction for bringing said holder out of said receptacle.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a stationary horizontalsupport, a plurality of receptacles mounted on said support'in circulararrangement thereon, a shaft mounted vertically in position centrally ofsaid receptacles, said shaft being rotatably and vertically movable, aframe carried by said shaft and movable therewith, a holder carried bysaid frame and movable thereby into and out of said receptacles and fromone receptacle to another, a movable control member mounted on saidsupport and a member fixed to said frame and movabletherewith into andout of operative relation to said control member for operating thelatter in response to said rotary and vertical movement of said shaft.

'7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a stationary horizontalsupport, a plurality of receptacles mounted on said support in circulararrangement thereon, a shaft mounted vertically in position centrally ofsaid receptacles,

therewith, a holder carried by said frame and movable thereby into andout of said receptacles and from one receptacle to another, a valvemounted on said support for controlling the flow of liquid into one ofsaid receptacles, and a member fixed to said frame and movable therewithinto and out of operative relation to said valve for operating thelatter in response to said rotary and vertical movement of said shaft.

8. In apparatus of the class described comprising a receptacle, a holderfor material to be treated in said receptacle, means mounting saidholder and said receptacle for relative vertical of operative relationto said valve, and means 10 operable in response to said relativemovement of said receptacle and holder for effecting said relativemovement of said valve and said valveactuating member,

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofreceptacles, a holder movable into and out of said receptacles,respectively, means for efiecting relative vertical and lateralmovements of said holder and receptacles for conveying said holder outof one of said receptacles and into another of said receptacles, meansincluding a valve for supplying liquid to one of said receptacles, andmeans operable in response to the movement of the holder into and out ofsaid last mentioned receptacle for controlling the operation of saidvalve.

EDWIN C. WEISKOPF.

